pippychick Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 I did a quick forum search, and didn't find a topic for this specific thing, so I thought I'd start one off. If you're a writer, and you can't touch type, it's a really easy (and strangely fun) thing to teach yourself. I did it quite a few years ago. I used learn2type.com but I'm sure there are other free resources out there too. Touch typing is a skill that is useful in lots of little ways you can't foresee, and it's also something you never forget. I know for a fact that I could never go back to writing longhand now, but that might be personal preference. When you can type without thinking about it, the ideas flow from your brain down through your fingers and appear on the screen like magic. Perhaps we could have a fun little wpm competition on this thread. I'll start, though it's a long time since I tried to be fast, so it's probably not all that good. .... Without any practice, my current WPM is 42. You can do better than that. Go on and have a go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melrick Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 67 WPM is my current best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonGoddess Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 I'm out of practice, and did a measly 64 wpm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayDee Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 A lot of the PWP authors would need specialist software, to learn to touch type one handed pittwitch, Desiderius Price, Cuzosu and 1 other 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pittwitch Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 JayDee - I love you. From dictation, my forte: 125 wpm on a bad day. JayDee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BronxWench Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 I managed to avoid learning how to touch type. I can still remember trying to drop that typewriter* out the window, muttering, "Fuck the lazy brown fox..." (*There were no PCs back then.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pittwitch Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BronxWench Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 Him, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonGoddess Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 oh man, I got so TIRED of that sentence! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melrick Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 I learnt to type on a typewriter, but I learnt to touch type thanks to an early version of Makin' Bacon Teaches Typing. That's how I always thought of her, anyway. It actually did a very good job of teaching me to touch type. pittwitch and BronxWench 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonGoddess Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 I learnt on a typewriter as well. When I was actively working in an office, my wpm was 100+ wpm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aysha c.c. Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Back in high school I used to achieve speeds of up words of 120 words per minute I used to use a technique called thought flow where I didn't even think the words I was writing I simply saw what was on the page and my fingers moved without thought haven't done that in about 100 years, Now I'm too embarrassed to tell you what my wpm is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pittwitch Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Learned on a manual - manual = not electric typewriter. We were so high tech. I thought I died and went to heaven when I could afford an electric. BronxWench 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonGoddess Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 yep, I learned on a manual too. Mom had an old Royal I practiced on at home. Then, the school upgraded and we got IBM Selectric II's for next semester pittwitch and BronxWench 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BronxWench Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 I had an old Royal manual myself. I also had a reel to reel tape recorder. And now that I've dated myself thoroughly... pittwitch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DemonGoddess Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 yep, had one of those too. as well as a cassette recorder when it first came out. And Super8, remember that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BronxWench Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Oh, yes! Black and white tvs.... Rotary dial phones... Yes, it was FUN then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippychick Posted February 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 I had a little manual too, but portable. For a while it went everywhere with me. Apart from the nostalgia, you're all so fast! I'd practice, but I know for a fact that the last time I was trying for speed I hit a plateau in the mid-70s and couldn't break through it. I'm fast enough for my thoughts, which is enough for me. It's brought up an idea though. In the world now, with all the smartphones and tablets and such, are keyboards going out? Will typing one day become a skill akin to dry stone walling? Cute, but unnecessary. I hope not, because I can't stand writing with predictive text. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BronxWench Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Predictive text makes me want to scream. I bought a little bluetooth keyboard for my tablet, and I use that rather than a laptop when I'm at the pool in the summer. I get to write, and when I need a break, I have the Kindle app to let me enjoy a book. I love my little keyboard, and I'll never give it up. Even if I am one of the slooooow typers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muhabba Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 I took the little test and can type 48 words per minute. Guess I need to practice some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desiderius Price Posted Tuesday at 03:16 PM Report Share Posted Tuesday at 03:16 PM Had a small mini course on touch typing back in high school… remarkably useful TBH. (It was part of a series of mini-courses, honing some basics, like shop skills, intro-drivers-ed, personal finance, etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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